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Monday, Jan. 28, 2019

With a record acquisition, "Late Night" is a Sundance hit

Mindy Kaling, left, a cast member and writer of "Late Night," poses with the film's director Nisha Ganatra at the premiere of the film during the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

By Lindsey Bahr, Film Writer

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) --

The Emma Thompson and Mindy Kaling comedy "Late Night" is already one of the biggest hits of the 2019 Sundance Film Festival with an acquisition price to match.

Amazon Studios on Saturday purchased the U.S. distribution rights for $13 million, a record for the festival.

"Late Night" follows a veteran talk show host played by Thompson who's facing declining ratings, possible cancellation and a reputation for not liking women. Kaling wrote the script and plays the "diversity hire" in the writer's room who has no qualifications except an undying love for Thompson's character, Katherine Newbury. But she helps shake things up for the show.

"It's really a movie about being a fan," Kaling told The Associated Press. "I've been such a comedy nerd my whole life and I've always felt like on the outside looking in. I had no connections in the business, but I just loved comedy and ... late-night talk shows. So the movie is just really a love letter for people who are fans of something and really want to be part of it, but don't feel like they have any access."

The film, which also stars Reid Scott, Hugh Dancy, Amy Ryan and John Lithgow, premiered Friday night in Park City and immediately became a must-see. Lines stretched around the block for the second screening Saturday morning and no empty seats were left in the massive Eccles Theater, where the audience buzzed about its sale that had just been reported by the trade publication Deadline.

"Late Night" is sleeker than your average Sundance movie and was originally to be made as a studio film, with Paul Feig directing. Delays left Feig unavailable, and Kaling moved on independently. Nisha Ganatra, who had directed an episode of "The Mindy Project," eventually came on to direct.

Amazon's acquisition of "Late Night" is the first major deal out of the 2019 festival, and one of the highest sums ever paid out of Sundance. The record-holder is "Birth of a Nation," which went for $17.5 million for the worldwide rights. "Late Night" beat out Amazon's $12 million deal for "The Big Sick," which went on to become a box office hit, and Netflix's $12.5 million for "Mudbound."

Kaling mined her own experiences in the business both as a boss and a newcomer, and those of others, to tell the story. Her character decides that she can't remember the names of her writers and calls them by numbers one through eight. This, Kaling said, is based on "a very famous comedy person" whom she "will never name."

Kaling wrote the part of Katherine specifically for Thompson, whom she had yet to meet, which she called "one of the stupidest things you can do in comedy."

"I was this creep in my home writing fan fiction for Emma Thompson, who I did not know, hoping that she would read it," Kaling said.

Julianne Moore, left, a cast member in "After the Wedding," poses with her husband, the film's writer/director Bart Freundlich, at the premiere of the film on the opening night of the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

By Lindsey Bahr, Film Writer

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) --

For director Bart Freundlich and Julianne Moore, having their film "After the Wedding" premiere opening at the Sundance Film Festival holds a special significance. Moore and Freundlich came to the festival 22 years ago with another film, "The Myth of Fingerprints," before marriage, children and everything else.

"In between there have been a ton of movies, mainly by her, but some by me," Freundlich said. "This is something that is really special to me."

The family drama "After the Wedding" kicked off the 2019 Sundance Film Festival Thursday night in the Eccles Theater. The film is a remake of an Oscar-nominated Danish film from Susanne Bier, and stars Moore as a wealthy businesswoman looking to donate money to an Indian orphanage run by Michelle Williams' character, while also planning her daughter's wedding with her husband, played by Billy Crudup.

Things get a little more complicated than that, but the developments are better left seen for oneself.

There was at least one significant change, however. In the original Danish film, Moore's character was a man, but she gave her husband the idea to flip the gender.

Moore said the switch "deepened" the story for her.

Sundance founder Robert Redford started off the evening reflecting on the origins of the festival, 34 years ago. He recalled a quainter Park City, with only one theater, the Egyptian and just a few restaurants and a library. In the early years, he remembered standing outside the theater, "Trying to hustle people in."

Cinema Audio Society president Mark Ulano, CAS announced that this year’s CAS Awards will include a President’s Award honoree: MaryJo Lang, CAS. The President’s Award is presented at the discretion of the CAS president to an individual who has been dedicated to the advancement of Sound.

“In the world of Foley mixing, MaryJo Lang has been a force of nature,” said Ulano. “Her understanding of how to tell stories with sound has made her a filmmaker of iconic stature. Having worked on almost 300 projects in her extensive career and becoming the premier go-to person in Foley for her creative powers, MaryJo Lang’s career represents a pinnacle achievement in the sound arts”, said Ulano. “Long ago, she broke down artificial barriers in a traditionally male dominated field with her spectacular ‘musicianship’”.

Ulano continued, “Beyond her own prolific output, she has contributed to the larger cinema sound community by participating in executive leadership, long serving as a Board member for the Cinema Audio Society and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Sound Branch Executive Committee. Many mentees have had the great fortune of MaryJo ‘paying it forward’ as she has provided a nurturing spirit, repeating the mentoring she received along the way. I am delighted to place a spotlight on this amazing individual who has meant so much to so many people and who so fully deserves the Cinema Audio Society’s President’s Award as an acknowledgement of her many achievements.”

Lang, now retired, was a Foley mixer at Warner Bros. Studios for over 25 years. She started in 1984, apprenticing in production sound with Ulano and Patrushkha Mierzwa on “Friday the 13th Part 5”. That led to an internship at Taj Soundworks, a well-known Foley stage in Los Angeles where she began mixing in 1991. She moved to Warner Bros. Studios in 1992 with foley artist John Roesch. She has worked on several motion pictures that have won the Oscar for Best Sound Mixing and/or Best Sound Editing, including “Braveheart,” ”The Matrix,” ”The Dark Knight,” “Inception” and “The Ghost and the Darkness” as well as several that have been nominated, “Interstellar,” “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and “The Social Network.” She was the first choice for mixing by top supervising sound editors Ren Klyce, Charles L. Campbell and Dane Davis.

Lang served on the Executive Committee for the Sound Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for two terms and, during her career has spoken at seminars in Stuttgart, Germany and at USC on the art of Foley. She finished her career at Warner Bros. working on “The Meg” with her favorite foley artists, Alyson Moore and Chris Moriana.

Her last project was in Finland, working with Heikki Kossi, the top Foley artist in Scandinavia, on the documentary, “The Distant Barking of Dogs,” which has been short listed for an Academy nomination.

She has won three CAS Awards for Foley mixing on “Frozen,” “Big Hero Six” and “Inside Out”.

Lang has been enjoying retirement immensely by being able to satisfy her love of travel. She had already been to over 50 countries while she was working and, since retiring, she has been to China, Mongolia, Russia, Cuba, Thailand and Laos--and that’s just in the first year! She loves to see new places, try new food and share it all with her friends back home, who follow her on Facebook and her email diary.

Director Ron Howard is planning to make a documentary about a Northern California town's attempt to rebuild after a devastating wildfire last year

National Geographic Documentary Films announced the project Thursday which will focus on the Sierra Nevada foothills town of Paradise, California. In November of 2018, flames destroyed nearly 15,000 homes and displaced over 50,000 people. Its working title is "Rebuilding Paradise."

Howard said he has relatives in the area and was drawn to the universal human experience of the tragedy. The film will follow the residents of Paradise, first responders and volunteers helping to rebuild the town over the course of a year.

National Geographic Documentary Films is also the shop behind the climbing documentary "Free Solo" which was just nominated for an Oscar.

This Dec. 2, 2013 file photo shows Bryan Singer at the Los Angeles premiere of "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug." (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)

By Jake Coyle, Film Writer

NEW YORK (AP) --

Following an expose that claimed Bryan Singer has seduced and molested several underage men, the film production company Millennium Films on Thursday said it is staunchly supporting the director.

In a statement, Avi Lerner, founder and chief executive of Millennium, said that the company is going forward with a remake of the fantasy adventure "Red Sonja" with Singer attached to direct.

"The over $800 million 'Bohemian Rhapsody' has grossed, making it the highest grossing drama in film history, is testament to his remarkable vision and acumen," said Lerner. "I know the difference between agenda driven fake news and reality, and I am very comfortable with this decision. In America people are innocent until proven guilty."

An article published Wednesday in The Atlantic alleged a pattern of predatory behavior by Singer, including sex with a 15-year-old at a Beverly Hills, Calif., mansion in 1997. Three men spoke on the condition of anonymity and a fourth said he was molested by Singer on the set of 1998's "Apt Pupil" when he was in the seventh grade.

Singer has denied the claims. He called the article a "homophobic smear piece" that was "conveniently timed" to take advantage of the success of "Bohemian Rhapsody."

"It's sad that The Atlantic would stoop to this low standard of journalistic integrity," said Singer. "Again, I am forced to reiterate that this story rehashes claims from bogus lawsuits filed by a disreputable cast of individuals willing to lie for money or attention."

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office earlier investigated claims that male minors were pressured into stripping naked for a shower scene in "Apt Pupil" but declined to press charges. Lawsuits filed by families of the minors involved were settled out of court.

"Bohemian Rhapsody," the Freddie Mercury biopic, was nominated for five Oscars on Tuesday, including best picture. Singer was fired as the director of the 20th Century Fox film during shooting after several absences from the London production. He remains the sole credited director on the film even though he was replaced by Dexter Fletcher.

Days after Singer was dismissed from "Bohemian Rhapsody," Cesar Sanchez-Guzman filed a lawsuit in Seattle against Singer alleging the director raped him in 2003 when Sanchez-Guzman was 17. Singer's attorney Andrew Brettler at the time said Singer "categorically denies these allegations and will vehemently defend this lawsuit to the very end." The case is still pending.

Founded in 1996, Millennium Films has produced a number of star-driven action films including "The Expendables," ''Olympus Has Fallen" and "The Hitman's Bodyguard."

Greg Berlanti, Emmy®-nominated writer, director and producer, will be named Television Showman of the Year at the 56th Annual International Cinematographers Guild (ICG, IATSE Local 600) Publicists Awards. The Awards, celebrating excellence in publicity and promotion for motion pictures and television programs, returns to the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Friday, February 22. More than 900 industry leaders are expected to attend this year’s luncheon, which traditionally occurs the week leading up to the Academy Awards®.

In making the announcement, ICG national president Steven Poster, ASC, noted, “Greg Berlanti has produced a prodigious amount of quality television in the 21st century –almost 30 series, over 1,000 episodes, with many more in the pipeline. This year, he set a new record with 15 current live-action scripted series. This is clearly the right time for us to honor Greg and his growing body of work.”

Berlanti said: “I’m truly honored to be receiving this recognition from the ICG Publicists. Throughout my career, the folks in the publicity departments at the various studios I’ve worked with have been some of my favorite people to collaborate with and I can say first hand that without a smart, strategic publicity campaign, my shows wouldn’t have enjoyed anywhere near the level of success that they have.”

WGA, DGA and Golden Globe nominated writer, director, and producer, Berlanti is the force behind some of the most inventive and acclaimed works in film and television.

Berlanti started in television on the hit show Dawson’s Creek. Since then, Berlanti has served as creator, writer, and producer behind shows such as Everwood, Jack & Bobby, Eli Stone, and Political Animals. He also served as a producer on Brothers & Sisters and Dirty, Sexy, Money.

During Upfronts 2018, it was announced that Berlanti’s company would make television history with a total of 14 scripted series on the air at the same time. He currently works as executive producer and co-creator on Arrow, The Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl and You. Additionally, Berlanti serves as executive producer on Riverdale, Black Lightning, Blindspot, Titans, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, All American, God Friended Me, as well as the upcoming The Red Line, Doom Patrol, and Stargirl.

Berlanti made his film directorial debut in 2000 with The Broken Hearts Club. His most recent feature directorial project is the critically acclaimed Love, Simon, an adaptation of the celebrated YA novel Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his husband and son.

As previously announced, the Publicists Awards Luncheon will also honor producer Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) with the Motion Picture Showman of the Year Award and Jamie Lee Curtis with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The ICG Publicists Directory, to be distributed at the luncheon, will be dedicated to Paul Bloch, co-chairman of Rogers & Cowan, who died last year. Awards chair this year is Tim Menke with Sheryl Main serving as co-chair.

In this May 2, 2017, file photo, people walk by a Verizon store in New York. Verizon is cutting about 800 jobs, or 7 percent of the staff in its media division, as it reorganizes the troubled unit. he new CEO of Verizon’s media division, Guru Gowrappan, sent an email to employees Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019, informing them of the layoffs. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)

By Tali Arbel, Technology Writer

NEW YORK (AP) --

Verizon is cutting about 800 jobs, or 7 percent of its media and advertising employees, as it reorganizes the troubled division.

The wireless company had hoped to create an ad business that could compete with Google and Facebook. It spent roughly $10 billion buying up former Internet pioneers Yahoo and AOL . But Verizon found benefits from integrating those two companies were less than expected. The company slashed the value of its media unit by nearly $5 billion in December.

The new CEO of Verizon's media division, Guru Gowrappan, informed employees of the layoffs in an email Wednesday. He says the division's priorities will now include focusing on mobile and video products and stemming declines with desktop users.

This Dec. 2, 2013 file photo shows Bryan Singer at the Los Angeles premiere of "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug." (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)

By Jake Coyle, Film Writer

NEW YORK (AP) --

Bryan Singer, the director of the Oscar-nominated "Bohemian Rhapsody," has been accused of sexually assaulting minors in an expose published by the Atlantic.

The Atlantic on Wednesday published a lengthy article based on a 12-month investigation. It details the stories of four alleged victims who said they were seduced and molested by the "Bohemian Rhapsody" director while underage. Three of the men spoke on the condition of anonymity. Victor Valdovinos said he was molested by Singer on the set of 1998's "Apt Pupil" when he was in the seventh grade.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office earlier investigated claims that male minors were pressured into stripping naked for a shower scene in "Apt Pupil" but declined to press charges. Lawsuits filed by families of the minors involved were settled out of court.

In a statement issued through his attorney, Singer denied the claims and called The Atlantic article a "homophobic smear piece that he said was "conveniently timed" to take advantage of the success of "Bohemian Rhapsody."

The Freddie Mercury biopic on Tuesday was nominated for five Oscars, including best picture. Singer was dismissed as the director of "Bohemian Rhapsody" during shooting after several absences from the London production. Singer remains the sole credited director on the film even though he was replaced by Dexter Fletcher.

Singer sharply criticized The Atlantic for publishing a story that Esquire magazine had been preparing before ultimately declining to publish.

"It's sad that The Atlantic would stoop to this low standard of journalistic integrity," said Singer. "Again, I am forced to reiterate that this story rehashes claims from bogus lawsuits filed by a disreputable cast of individuals willing to lie for money or attention."

The journalists, Maximillian Potter and Alex French, defended their reporting as rigorously fact-checked in a statement issued Wednesday. Potter and French said the story was originally vetted and approved for publication at the Hearst-owned Esquire, but was "killed by Hearst executives." A spokesperson for Hearst didn't immediately respond to messages Wednesday.

Shortly after Singer was fired from "Bohemian Rhapsody," Cesar Sanchez-Guzman filed a lawsuit in Seattle against Singer alleging the director raped him in 2003 when Sanchez-Guzman was 17. Singer's attorney Andrew Brettler at the time said Singer "categorically denies these allegations and will vehemently defend this lawsuit to the very end."

The case is still pending. Soon after it was filed, the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts removed Singer's name from its cinema and media studies division. The school said Singer requested his name be removed until the allegations against him were resolved.

The Atlantic report alleges a pattern of predatory behavior on Singer's part, including sex with a 15-year-old at a Beverly Hills, Calif., mansion in 1997. Singer preemptively denied the report in October when he wrote on his Instagram account that the reporters were "attempting to tarnish a career I've spent 25 years to build."

Singer, the 53-year-old director of "The Usual Suspects" and "X-Men," last fall was hired to direct a remake of the fantasy adventure "Red Sonja" for Millennium Films. A spokesperson for Millennium didn't return requests for comment Wednesday.

Comcast continues to lose its U.S. cable customers, but racked up more internet subscribers and got a revenue boost from Sky, its big bet on European TV.

The Philadelphia company said Wednesday that it lost 29,000 U.S. cable customers in the fourth quarter, but added 351,000 internet subscribers. It also gained customers in its new cellphone-plan business.

The company is facing up to a growing number of people cutting their cable bundles to save money. A number of companies have joined Netflix in offering cheaper streaming services.

Comcast is also looking to compete there. It is launching a streaming service next year, joining the crowded field competing for consumers' attention.

It's also seeking growth overseas. Its Sky deal, completed in October after a dramatic tug of war with rival U.S. entertainment companies Walt Disney Co. and 21st Century Fox, brings to Comcast TV, home internet and cellphone customers in Europe. In that unit, revenue would have risen 2.4 percent to $5 billion, when results are adjusted to make it as if Comcast had owned it for all of last year's fourth quarter and the year before. Without the effect of currency changes, revenue would have risen 5.6 percent.

Comcast said Wednesday that net income fell 83 percent to $2.51 billion, or 55 cents per share. A big tax benefit in 2017 from changes to the tax code weighed on this year's result.

This March 19, 2018, file photo shows the Netflix app on an iPad in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

NEW YORK (AP) --

On the same day Netflix scored its first best picture nomination from the Oscars, the streaming company is also joining the lobbying group the Motion Picture Association of America.

The MPAA announced Tuesday that Netflix will join its ranks, becoming the first streaming service to do so. The only other members of the MPAA are the six major studios.

One of the MPAA's chief goals is to combat piracy, which is a concern for Netflix as it continues to expand its footprint overseas. Netflix, though, doesn't use the MPAA's ratings system to stamp its films PG-13 or R, for example.

The MPAA is largely uninvolved in theatrical window debates, an ongoing dispute that has put Netflix at odds with theater owners.

The trade group is set to lose one member this year when 20th Century Fox is acquired by the Walt Disney Co.

Netflix on Tuesday landed 15 Academy Awards nominations, including best picture for "Roma."